Car-coupling



(No Model.)

A. J. SHIPMAN.

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 350,775. Patented Oct. 12, 1886.

WI TJV ESSES N. Lilhognphar, Washingmn, n. cy

UNITED STATES ATENT ANDRE\V .I. SIIIPMAN, OF IIARDINSVILIJFI, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

. ;L ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,775, datedOctober 12, 1886.

Application filed September 2, 1886. Serial No. 32,505.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. Sl-IIPMAN, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Hardinsville, in the county of Crawford andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in(-ar- Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to lettersor figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements incar-couplers, the objectof the same being to provide a coupling deviceby the use of which the adjacent cars may be automatically coupled toeach other; and to this end my invention consists in the constructionand combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth,and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure l isa longitudinal sectional view of a car-coupler constructed in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the device forelevating' the link, said device being attached to the forward or frontportion of the draw-head. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of thedevice for depressing the rear end of the link, said device beingpivoted to the rear portion of the draw-head, and Fig. I is amodification of the latch or catch-plate.

A refers to the draw-head, which is preferably made in two parts, whichare securely bolted to each other and attached to the carbody in theusual manner. The draw-headv above the link-opening is provided with alongitudinal slot, a, between the sides of which is pivoted a latch, B,which is secured thereto by a transverse pin, I). Said latch may beeither made of a solid plate, as shown in Fig. 1, or the interior of theplate may be removed, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to render said platelight and less expensive to manufacture. The

plate is provided at its upper end with a projecting portion, 0, whichis provided with perforations through which passes a cord or flexibleconnection, C, for elevating the same, and the front upper end of thecoupler provided (No model.)

with a notch or recess, (1, within which the upper portion of the latchwill lie when elevated, as shown in dotted lines, so that the projectingportion a will tilt or swing beyond the guide or staple (1, attached tothe carcoupler, through which staple the latch-operating cord passes. Bythus constructing the draw-head the latch maybe elevated by drawing uponthe same, and when elevated can be thrown beyond its center, so that itwill fall by gravity. The lower front edge of the latch B is providedwith a straight wall, which will engage with an upwardly-project-ingportion, 0, which is formed ii'itegral with the drawhead, and form astop.

f f refer to transverse bars, which are socured so as to be capable of avertical movement within the front edge of the draw-head, said barsbeing connected to each other by a transverse plate, F, the edge ofwhich is curved, as shown. By elevating these bars, which can be done byany suitable attachments, as levers, the link I l may be raised at; itsfront end, so that it will enter the adjacent draw-head, even though thenext car is higher. XViithin the rear upper portion of the recess of thedraw-head a curved bifurcated plate, G, is pivoted, one of the pivotsthereof projecting through the draw-head, so that an operating lever, 9,may be attached thereto. This bifurcated plate may be employed fordepressing the rear end of the link so as to elevate its front portion,or may also be employed as a stop to prevent the rear end of the linkrising when it is desired to have the link inclined downwardly from thefront portion of the coupler. By providing the plate or castingG with acut-away portion it is lightened, and the members adjacent to the centerrecesses will bear upon the sides of the link. A considerable space isleft behind the latch, in which the coupling-link may have a certainamount of play.

If desired, the draw-head may be provided at its sides with hooks whichwill carry additional links. The device hereinbeforc described is simplein construction and effective in operation.

I claim v 1. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a of a latch, B,pivoted within a slot in the up per portion of the draw-head, bars f f,vertically adjustable within guides, and provided with a cross-bar, F,and a pivoted plate, G, secured within the rear portion of the draw-headand provided exteriorly with an operatinglever, the parts beingorganized substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a car-coupler pro vided at its upper end with alongitudinal slot, a, and a latch, B, pivoted within said slot andprovided with portions adapted to abut against an upwardly-projectingportion, 6, of the drawhead, and when elevated to rest upon a shoul-ANDREW J. SHIPMAN.

Vitnesses:

ANDREW J. THOMAS, JOSEPH B. CROWLEY.

